Ladder hinge



Aug. 26, 1952 o. E. NEHLER 2,608,337

LADDER HINGE Filed Feb. 9,1948 l 2 SHEETS- simu 1 Oscr E Nell/er JNVENroR.

AU8 26, 1952 ou. E. NEHLER 2,608,337

LADDER HINGE Filed Feb. 9I 1948 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2 m E Oscar E. Nebler JNVENTOR.

@v WWMW d rIhis invention relatesv to Patented Aug. 26, 1952 l 1 acoaasi ENTu Omer-:1,

l LADDER HINGE;

A( )scar E. Nehler, Lincoln, Nebr. a

- Application February 9, 194s, serialNo. 7,222

new and useful improvements in ladders and the primary object of the presentinvention Vis-to provide a combination step and extension ladder.

Another important object of thepresent invention is to provide a combination step ladder and extension ladder that includes a novel and improved hinge which is quickly and readily applied to or removed from a pair of ladder sec- `tions in a convenient manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination step and extension ladder includinga pair of hinged'ladder sections and novel and improved means for holding the'ladder sections in an extendedposition.

)A still furthervaim of the present invention is toprovide aladder hinge that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, smalland compact in structure, neat and vattractive l in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ladder constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the same in a locked and extended position for use as an extension ladder;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ladder constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the same in an unlocked position for use as a step ladder;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the hinge members used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 7;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantially through the center of the hinge member used in conjunction with the present invention; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevational View of the present ladder structure in position for use as an extension ladder.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral i0 represents the present combination step and extension laddergenerally; comprising a `lower or forward Vsection "I2 vandan upper or rear section I4. Thelower sectionjV I2 is provided with a pair of spaced, parallel substantially rectangular side rails I6 that are 'conL nected by a plurality of longitudinally spaced rungs, the upper of which isdesignated bythe numeral I8.v The upper section I4 is also `provided with apair of spaced, parallel substantially rectangular side rails 20 that are connectedby a plurality of longitudinally spaced rungs including a lower rung 22. l Y f y Frictionally and slidably engaging the upper ends of the side rails I6, is a'pair of channel shapedlower anchor members 24the upperrear edges of which are hinged as at 26 to the lower rear edges ofa pair of upper "channel shaped anchor members 28 that slidably andffrictionally engage the lower ends of the upper side rails2ll.

yProjecting outwardly from the inner sides"30 and 32 of the lower anchor members 24 andthe upper anchor members 28, are lower pivot bolts 34 and upper pivot bolts 36 the heads 38 of which are recessed in annular seats 40 formed in the inner faces of the sides 30 and 32. Pivoted on the bolts 34 and 36 respectively, are substantially rectangular, lower latch plates 42 and upper latch 4plates 44 that are retained on the bolts 34 and 36 by lock nuts or the like 46. These latch plates 42 and 44 are provided with notches 48 and 50 in their free rear longitudinal edges 52 and 54 n that frictionally engage the up-per rung I8 of the lower section I2 and the lower rung 22 of the upper section I4 to retain the anchor members in a fixed position on their respective ladder sections.

Y Extending outwardly from the forward sides 56 of the upper anchor members 28, are pivot bolts 58, the heads 6U of which frictionally engage annular seats 62 provided in the inner faces of the forward sides 56. These bolts 58 receivably engage nuts 64 for attaching the upper ends of a pair of substantially rectangular locking plates 66 to the upper anchor members 28. The outer longitudinal side edges 68 of these plates 66 are formed with transverse notches 'lil that terminate adjacent finger grips l2 integrally formed with the inner longitudinal side edges 14 of the locking plates 66. The notches lli frictionally and lockably engage outwardly projecting bolts 16 that are carried by the forward sides 18 of the: lower channeled anchor members 24. These latest bolts 'I6 receivably engage retaining nuts 80 and are also provided with enlarged head portions 82 that engage annular recesses 84 provided in the inner faces of the forward sides 18.

In practical use of the present ladder sections I2 and I4 as a step ladder, the locking plates 66 are disengaged from the bolts 16 and nuts 80 so that the sections I2 and I4 form a pair of upwardly converging elements that are hinged at their upper ends as shown best in Figure 2 of the drawings. llin'itlfiis position, a'length of chain 8'6 connectsselected upper rungs of the 'sections to permit only limited spreading of ladder sections.

To retain the sections I2 and I4 in position for use of the same as an extension ladder, theupper section I4 is pivoted upwardly, and the locking plates 66 engaged with the bolts 'IIS-tofholdfthel sections I2 and I4 in a longitudinally alignedA and extended position as shown`in`Figure `1.

In View of the foregoing description taken :in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it Lis-,believedthat a .clear understanding of the construction,v operation and advantages L of the 1dei- Vcelwill Vbe quite apparent to those skilled-- in this art. A more detailed .description .is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

lt is :to be understood, however, that `,even .thoughthere is herein shown .and describeda .preferred embodimentvof 'the inventionthe sameis :susceptibleto certain changes.fully-comprehended `bythe-spirit of the inventionlas herein described fand the scopeofthe appendedclaim.

Reference is `now directed to Figure .6 "wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed the present ladder hinge in slightlymodied-.form vIn.thisembodiment, resilient or-f-abric wear pads orstrips 88 are secured by'rivetsor thelike 90-to Vthefaces ofthelatch plates 42 and 4 4 that oppose 4theanhor members ,r2-4.and 28 to protect the anchor members2-4 and`28zfrom marring and to afford thenecessary frictional attraction between thepads 8-8 andanchor members Eiland-.28 :to prevent slippage of the latch plates 42 and 44 lrelative to the fsiderails.

rtacting the forward wall of said rst sleeve for fsu/inging movement in a plane parallel to said hinge, a threaded lug projecting from the forward "wall o'f said second sleeve, the second end portion `of,said:member having a notch for receiving said lug, a nut threaded on said lug for clamping the second/end portion of said member against the forward wall of the second sleeve, a threaded rod vproj eating from theinnenside wall. ofzieachsleeve, 'flat lrung vengagingr .a arms reeeivedizon isaid frods. Aand I.further :nuts 'threaiied on :saidvzrods and clamping the rung Mengagingarms .against the vinnerlsidewvallsrof saidsleeves. Y

"osoARfniNEHnER 

